Fraud is the intentional misrepresentation of facts made to deceive the victim, resulting in damages. In other words, it is lying or telling someone a falsehood to take advantage of the person and cause them harm. Fraud is against the law, and a person who has committed fraud can be prosecuted criminally. If someone has lied to you, misrepresented something to you, or taken advantage of you by fraudulent conduct, you also may file a civil lawsuit to recover money damages against the person.
Fraud can happen to anyone, but older people are particularly vulnerable to fraudulent scams. Also, people in business relationships can be victims of fraud, when one person in the business misrepresents something about the business to take control of the business or take the profits of the business. There are many types of fraud involving the internet and telemarketing schemes.The FBI has a list of common types of fraud schemes. The FBI also has safety tips on how to protect yourself from fraud. The Federal Trade Commission has information for consumersabout identity theft and also posts fraud alerts. The North Carolina Department of Public Safety also has a list of types of fraud and strategies forcrime prevention.
What type of conduct is fraudulent? Some examples of fraudulent conduct are:
Investment fraud
Bank fraud
Insurance fraud
Funeral and cemetery fraud
Health care fraud
Fraud in manufacturing
Investment fraud
Bank fraud
Insurance fraud
Funeral and cemetery fraud
Health care fraud
Fraud in manufacturing
What can a Crime Victim Lawyer do for a Fraud Victim?
As the victim of fraud, you may be able to pursue a civil claim against the person or business that committed a fraud against you. Often the perpetrators of fraud, such as investment or banking fraud, are employed by large and well-insured companies. Their employer may have known or suspected that the perpetrator was engaging in illegal activity, but they were benefiting from it financially so they let it continue right under their noses. Sometimes corporate boards of directors have plenty of notice that the company was selling a product or service that obviously did not deliver what it said it did.In these cases, it is often possible to bring a civil claim or lawsuit for the fraudulent and illegal conduct.
What to do if you are a victim of fraud
If you are a victim of fraud or suspect that you are a victim of fraud, you should document as much information as possible about what has happened. You should take note of the date and time of events and the location of events. Be as specific as possible. You should identify witnesses who may have information and also keep any physical evidence as well as information on your computer, phone, or other electronic devices. You may want to contact law enforcement and make a report. In most cases, it is not a good idea for you to confront the perpetrator. If confronted, the perpetrator may destroy evidence before you have the chance to document the unlawful conduct. Leave that to the professionals! Please contact us immediately if you have been injured by fraud or fraudulent conduct
If you or your family member has been injured by fraud, please contact us right away. It is important to investigate the situation and obtain evidence of the fraudulent conduct. Our identity theft attorneys can help you do that. It is also important to act quickly because there are legal deadlines that may prevent you from filing a lawsuit if you wait too long. Our experienced consumer fraud attorneys are here to help you if you or your family member has been injured by fraud.